Chapters (45)
- Cover
- Dedication
- Pulse
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY–ONE
- TWENTY–TWO
- TWENTY–THREE
- TWENTY–FOUR
- TWENTY–FIVE
- TWENTY–SIX
- TWENTY–SEVEN
- TWENTY–EIGHT
- TWENTY–NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY–ONE
- THIRTY–TWO
- THIRTY–THREE
- THIRTY–FOUR
- THIRTY–FIVE
- THIRTY–SIX
- THIRTY–SEVEN
- THIRTY–EIGHT
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- RESOURCES
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
- What’s next onyour reading list?
She’d been too nervous to eat the packet of nuts offered on both legs of her flight, let alone attempt a Hot Pocket. Delia was twisting a lock of her hair, mustering the courage to ask Eric if he was hungry, when her phone buzzed, followed by his.
Her heart sank as she read the text.
ValleyStart: Welcome one, welcome all. And so it is time to heed the call! Hackathon, tomorrow, 8 am. Hack or Be Hacked!
“At least it’s not two a.m.,” Eric said.
Delia couldn’t respond because a flurry of texts followed, all from Lucy.
Brainstorming time!
Followed by “brain” and “storm” emojis.
Let’s bring our Level 10 game!
It’s Ryan Thompson, ladies!
Then, finally, Um, guys, where are you?
SEVEN
SWOT ANALYSIS • Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, otherwise known as day one
THIS IS IT.
Electricity charged through Lucy’s limbs like she was at a club in the Tenderloin. Music pumping, hips thrusting, rafters vibrating, the whole place one claustrophobic creature alive on artisan gin and Red Bull and sweat.
Her head bobbed to an internal beat as she adjusted the knot of her ValleyStart tee at her waist and crossed the quad with Delia and Maddie. The “Hackathon” banner beneath the yellow painted tiles beckoned her inside the Spanish Revival–style student center.
She had arrived.
They had arrived.
So what if Delia was a typical coder: all gray matter, practical shoes, and the social skills of beached kelp. From the little bit of code she’d shown Lucy last night, Lucy knew she wouldn’t have to carry her.
And Maddie . . . well, yes, the girl had an attitude problem. But she also had a client list bigger than the population of Sausalito. No one would hire her for her personality, that was for sure. Which meant she must be a kick-ass designer.
That freed Lucy up to do what she did best. Strategize, stylize, and socialize. In other words, sell. The number-one component of any successful startup. And Lucy would be a success.
No matter what her mom thought.
CIO? Pfft. Lucy snorted. Try CEO, Mom. Glass ceiling, my CrossFit-trained ass. She couldn’t help a snicker. Delia jumped beside her.
It’s fine, it’s going to be fine.
Lucy seized Delia’s hand, which actually felt as wet and slimy as beached kelp. Still, Lucy pushed forth her most enthusiastic smile. “Isn’t this exciting?”
Eyes downcast, Delia’s head moved the tiniest bit, and Lucy took that as a yes.
It’s going to be fine.
“Exciting, right?” she called to Maddie, who’d lagged behind since leaving the dorm, her fingers flying across her phone at four times the rate of her feet. And her words not flying at all. She gave an “uh-huh” without looking up.
Going to be fine.